Just read Oser laisser «massacrer» le français. A somewhat misleading title; it is an interview with the director of the School of French as a Foreign Language, attached to UNIL. The title comes from the last paragraph: Google's translation: I certainly agree with the second sentence, as I have absolutely no difficulty having long conversations in my abominably grammatically crippled French. I must, though, disagree with the first sentence. I am often praised for my French, bad as it is, and cannot recall anyone correcting me.

What are your experiences?

In short, yes. Bad memories in Perpignan..

(And I think I'm intolerant to "intollerant" with two "Ls")

Really, I meant "Ls"...

They may be intolerant, but they can also be surprisingly magnanimous. A French employee of mine, after having recovered form the shock of having a British boss that spoke fluent French, complimented me on my French and said it was probably better than most French people he knew because they were lazy and didn't always bother to look for the right words. Needless to say that I felt really chuffed..

I find French speakers to be terribly intolerant of my, if I might be so bold as to say so myself, rather excellent French.

I confess that I speak a rare form of French that consists entirely of English vocabulary and grammar, spoken in a loudly intoned English accent, but one would think they'd appreciate the effort, all the same.

The churlish, onion-munching wine-addled sots.

But what can one expect? They know their language is dying, and wish to preserve it as my Uncle preserved Grandmolly Brown for all those months in the vinegar butt in the scullery.

If only he'd told us before pickling season that year...

I find the French speaking Swiss to be a lot more tolerant than the native French, plus they usually speak more clearly and slowly. Its probably because they don't feel as possessive of the language.

That's true in my experience, too.

Well, from my lofty experience of only about two months, I have found the French-speaking Swiss in Vaud quite tolerant. I have been trying not to switch back into English even when I can sense that they would prefer to, and I just keep chugging along in my horrendous French. So far, I have only had to resort to "je ne parle pas Francaise" twice because the person I was speaking with was speaking so quickly that I couldn't understand anything they said.

It has been said many, many times, but I'll repeat it once more. Don't give up. Just keep trying to speak French/German/Italian. Every day you get better and better even though you might not realize your progress. I notice every day that I understand a tiny bit more than I did before.

Having said that, I'm going to do just a wee bit of complaining here. For God's sake, why do the French have all of those letters on the end of every friggin' word if they have no intention of ever pronouncing them?! OK, I'm done. I feel better now.

Good point; my experience is entirely in Switzerland. Still, I have had enjoyable conversations with French people, with no comments about my linguistic skills (or lack thereof).

For what it's worth, my difficulties are with grammar, not with vocabulary, so conversations can flow.

I usually give them the choice: Excellent German, good English or horrible French, and most pick horrible French. So, they cannot complain - and they don't. I find they really appreciate the effort, maybe also because there are many Swiss German speakers who are so afraid of making a mistake that they rather do not speak French at all - even though they generally had years of French at school.

So: Keep going!

I have no problem with anyone killing the French, lets face it it's been the national pastime of the English for centuries.

When it comes to language many French speaking non-French are tollerant and accepting of gaffs, and are happy to point out the correct usage, the native French however take it as a personal insult should you le when you should have la'd, forgotten that cars and buildings are female (and normally prettier than the woman), wish to buy something between 12-2... and worst of all snigger at the rosy pink lycra of Stade Francais.

That'll learn 'em!

The French think the Swiss speak it slowly for another reason and then there is that accent... .

I never found that to be the case- quite the contrary.

I don't think anyone is intolerant in general, but in certain situations especially when time is of concern- I know I've asked people to switch to language they are more comfortable in to get on with it.

As for the Vaudois accent I guess you mean the added a the end of certain words like Bonjour - a

I find the Swiss in this region romande quite happy to help you out. Some switch to practising their English before you even open your mouth. Which actually does not help me at all.

The Swiss French are simply a lovely bunch of very tolerant, sweet, kind and pleasant people. So of course not at all intolérant of "bad French" as they are pretty much aware of how bad their French already is compared to the real French, you know how they speak it over there in lovely France.

Plus the fact that many Swiss speaking French aren't necessarily speaking it as their native language. I'm thinking of the workers on trains, banks etc who are bilingual. I suspect the native French speaking Swiss need to slow down their speech a little to make allowances for these people.

Case in point - I was on a Swiss flight the other day. I got on carrying a copy of Le Temps, and the stewardess spoke to me for virtually the whole flight in French. Just before we landed she saw me reading something in English and said something to the effect of "I wish I knew you spoke English as it's much easier for me to speak English than French".

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Well, we have to put up with you foreigners making a dog's breakfast of God's own language all the time, so it's only fair that the garlic-munchers show some respect for our efforts in return, no matter how difficult it might be for them, don't you think?

It is quite unfitting for you, of all people, to be disparaging a dog's breakfast, Mr Dougal. Have some garlic to munch and repent.

And you can say that without blushing??
Shame on you, Breakfast Boy!!

Look - I'm doing it for you

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